Luna and Kunox’s Tracking Journal 2019

[land 1]

nice job kunox

[outdoorstom]

10/13/19

 

#2

I was called by a friend that shot a buck this evening and couldn’t find any blood. He did a small grid search, then did the right thing and backed out and called me. He and the landowner had seen the direction the deer went, but didn’t know exactly where the deer had cut into the woods. After steering Luna in the right direction in the field, she put her nose to the ground and picked a trail. After 50 yards, she showed us some blood, 250 yards further and she showed us the 6 point buck.

 

#3

I was still in the woods on track #2  when I received a call from a concerned Dad who’s 15 year old son had shot a buck this evening. They lost the track in a overgrown field after following it for about 60 yards. Luna quickly took us to the hunters point of loss, then showed us the arrow 30 yards later. She was leading us by decent blood until we hit a green field that was cut very short, then it was very difficult to see any at all,We didn’t need to see any though, as Luna was locked on. We left the field and entered a woodlot where the amount of blood increased and we started seeing bubbles in it. He didn’t go far from this point and Luna found him at the 334 yard mark. The hunter had made a good shoot , hitting the lower part of both lungs and nicking the heart. Amazing how far they can sometimes go with severe injuries like these. Congratulations on your first bow buck Alex!

[nyslowhand]

Kudos, a 2 for 2 day!

[TreeGuy]

2fer !!!

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[UpStateRedNeck]

Such a cool thing you do for people, can't give those dogs enough accolades.

[outdoorstom]

9 hours ago, nyslowhand said:

Kudos, a 2 for 2 day!

No, it was 3 for 3 :-)  I posted #1 earlier in the day.

 

Edited October 14, 2019 by outdoorstom

[outdoorstom]

10/14/19

 

I was called to track a doe for a youth hunter this morning.  It was a 30 yard shot with a .243, and she and her Dad were confident it was a good one. They had tracked a few drops of blood for 30 or 40 yards until they hit a dense thicket and then backed out. Kunox got on the track and took us into the tangled mess, showing us an occasional drop of blood.  About 200-300 yards into the track, Kunox went hot and I saw the doe slowly take off 40 yards ahead of us.  I decided we would pursue and try to get another look at her before deciding if we should back out or not. This time she let us get to 15 yards and stayed bedded down, but it was still so thick that the hunter couldn’t get a shot. As she and her Dad tried to get in position for a shot, she took off again. We found her bedded down 100 yards away, and this time we were at 10 yards and the hunter was able to finish her. The initial shot was to the liver. The track was 580 yards.

[land 1]

kunox for president !!!! lol great job

[UpStateRedNeck]

Reading one of these with my coffee and cider donuts in the morning is a warm and fuzzy way to start my day.  

Willing to be that is a huge difference for a youth and them being a lifelong hunter :. Finding their first deer vs searching for hours only for heartbreak.

 

So thank you for doing this Tom, especially for kids.

[outdoorstom]

10/16/19

 

#1

I met a hunter at first light this morning to track an 8 pointer he shot yesterday evening. He felt the shot was back, and to make matters worse he had watched a coyote cut the deers track in the field and follow it into the woods. The hunter had waited a while and then snuck into the woods. He tracked blood for 60 yards before backing out. Luna got locked on and we took off. She showed us an occasional drop, then nothing for 100’s of yards, then a drop. She was working in circles and there were areas it was apparent a deer had been running, most likely being chased by coyotes. We left the woods, entered a field, and made a big loop heading back toward where the deer had entered the woods. This was after a few restarts. The hunter did an excellent job of spotting sign, even finding a small piece of meat hanging on a sapling. We found no hair indicating the coyotes had caught up to the buck. After checking a nearby pond, checking overgrown fields and bedding areas, we pulled the plug.

 

#2

This track was a high shoulder hit that the hunter had tracked “good blood” for 250 yards. He had then done a small grid search before backing out. Kunox extended the track another 300 yards showing us an occasional drop. He ended up taking us to the edge of a deep swamp where he dove in and started swimming out into it. When I’d pull him back to shore he’s do it again. There is no doubt that is where the doe went. Kunox did his job.

 

#3

 

Today’s last track was for a doe that was shot this morning with a crossbow. The hunter was on the ground and indicated he had a high back hit. He and a friend had tracked for 260 yards before losing blood. Luna had a little trouble locking on, but after she did, she was awesome. We traveled 300 yards without seeing blood, then I saw what I thought was a small smear on a sapling. A few squirts of hydrogen peroxide confirmed it was blood. We entered a thicket and a few minutes later Luna went hot. We started seeing good blood and caught up with the doe in a couple hundred yards. I was starting to doubt the high back hit report due us catching up to her again and thought the hunter may have actually hit lower than he thought. The doe was moving slower when she took off the second time so we continued. Plans with my wife this evening and heavy rain in the forecast were also factors. We were in an overgrown field when we caught up with her the third time, and were so close I almost stepped on her without seeing her and I wasn’t able to get a shot off. We saw her bed down about 50 yards away and I was able to dispatch her there. After the shot I screwed up by accidentally giving Luna too much leash and she got too close and got kicked in the leg before the deer expired. I checked her out and she seemed fine, but on the way out was stopping and lifting her left front leg, so she got a lift. She’s getting a few days off to recuperate. This track was 1003 yards long. The hunter was right about the high hit, so I was surprised we caught up with her. 

[crappyice]

10/16/19

 

#1

I met a hunter at first light this morning to track an 8 pointer he shot yesterday evening. He felt the shot was back, and to make matters worse he had watched a coyote cut the deers track in the field and follow it into the woods. The hunter had waited a while and then snuck into the woods. He tracked blood for 60 yards before backing out. Luna got locked on and we took off. She showed us an occasional drop, then nothing for 100’s of yards, then a drop. She was working in circles and there were areas it was apparent a deer had been running, most likely being chased by coyotes. We left the woods, entered a field, and made a big loop heading back toward where the deer had entered the woods. This was after a few restarts. The hunter did an excellent job of spotting sign, even finding a small piece of meat hanging on a sapling. We found no hair indicating the coyotes had caught up to the buck. After checking a nearby pond, checking overgrown fields and bedding areas, we pulled the plug.

 

#2

This track was a high shoulder hit that the hunter had tracked “good blood” for 250 yards. He had then done a small grid search before backing out. Kunox extended the track another 300 yards showing us an occasional drop. He ended up taking us to the edge of a deep swamp where he dove in and started swimming out into it. When I’d pull him back to shore he’s do it again. There is no doubt that is where the doe went. Kunox did his job.

 

#3

 

Today’s last track was for a doe that was shot this morning with a crossbow. The hunter was on the ground and indicated he had a high back hit. He and a friend had tracked for 260 yards before losing blood. Luna had a little trouble locking on, but after she did, she was awesome. We traveled 300 yards without seeing blood, then I saw what I thought was a small smear on a sapling. A few squirts of hydrogen peroxide confirmed it was blood. We entered a thicket and a few minutes later Luna went hot. We started seeing good blood and caught up with the doe in a couple hundred yards. I was starting to doubt the high back hit report due us catching up to her again and thought the hunter may have actually hit lower than he thought. The doe was moving slower when she took off the second time so we continued. Plans with my wife this evening and heavy rain in the forecast were also factors. We were in an overgrown field when we caught up with her the third time, and were so close I almost stepped on her without seeing her and I wasn’t able to get a shot off. We saw her bed down about 50 yards away and I was able to dispatch her there. After the shot I screwed up by accidentally giving Luna too much leash and she got too close and got kicked in the leg before the deer expired. I checked her out and she seemed fine, but on the way out was stopping and lifting her left front leg, so she got a lift. She’s getting a few days off to recuperate. This track was 1003 yards long. The hunter was right about the high hit, so I was surprised we caught up with her. 

Awesome! Rest up Luna!


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[WWJD_Hunter]

Luna is on fire. Keep up the great job Luna 

[BizCT]

Great success rates !


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[Robhuntandfish]

Kunox not even giving up in the water!  That little dog has some heart! 

[outdoorstom]

10/17/19

 

I was contacted last night by a bowhunter that had been out scouting and saw a big buck leave a cut cornfield and go into the woods. He had his bow with him so he parked and snuck in after him. He was able to get to under 30 yards due to a heavy downpour. This is where my lecture begins. I personally believe it’s unethical to bowhunt in heavy rain and I told him that. He agreed that hadn’t been a smart idea and he had let the size of the buck cloud his judgement. Ok, back to the story.....

He felt that he had made a good shot and waited 20 minutes before going after him. He said that despite the downpour he still had a good bloodtrail and followed it 200 yards through hardwoods and backed out when it went into a tall weedy area. Kunox and I arrived at first light in the pouring rain, after getting in excess of an inch overnight. There was a deer in the field when we arrived and Kunox went hot almost immediately after starting the track, so we did a restart and got him going in the direction the hunter had marked. We got to the grassy area and Kunox took a trail out of it back into the hardwoods. I  pulled him off when it became obvious he was pulling way too hard and the track was way too fresh to be our deer. We went back for a restart and he took a trail into the thick stuff. 20 yards away lay this beauty! I’m sure they would have found him on their own, but I’m glad we had the pleasure of doing that for them!  The hunter was very smart to back out when he did, rather than risk pushing this big buck.

[grampy]

What an awesome team you guys are Tom!!!  

Though Luna and Kunox are spectacular tracking dogs, your experience and common sense as a handler, completes the "Dream Team"!!!

Way to go! You guys are having a great season this year!

[Marion]

10/17/19

 

I was contacted last night by a bowhunter that had been out scouting and saw a big buck leave a cut cornfield and go into the woods. He had his bow with him so he parked and snuck in after him. He was able to get to under 30 yards due to a heavy downpour. This is where my lecture begins. I personally believe it’s unethical to bowhunt in heavy rain and I told him that. He agreed that hadn’t been a smart idea and he had let the size of the buck cloud his judgement. Ok, back to the story.....

He felt that he had made a good shot and waited 20 minutes before going after him. He said that despite the downpour he still had a good bloodtrail and followed it 200 yards through hardwoods and backed out when it went into a tall weedy area. Kunox and I arrived at first light in the pouring rain, after getting in excess of an inch overnight. There was a deer in the field when we arrived and Kunox went hot almost immediately after starting the track, so we did a restart and got him going in the direction the hunter had marked. We got to the grassy area and Kunox took a trail out of it back into the hardwoods. I  pulled him off when it became obvious he was pulling way too hard and the track was way too fresh to be our deer. We went back for a restart and he took a trail into the thick stuff. 20 yards away lay this beauty! I’m sure they would have found him on their own, but I’m glad we had the pleasure of doing that for them!  The hunter was very smart to back out when he did, rather than risk pushing this big buck.

That's a buck of a lifetime for me! That's a complete monster!

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[outdoorstom]

2 hours ago, grampy said:

What an awesome team you guys are Tom!!!  

Though Luna and Kunox are spectacular tracking dogs, your experience and common sense as a handler, completes the "Dream Team"!!!

Way to go! You guys are having a great season this year!

That’’s very kind of you!

[moog5050]

You folks are good.  And thanks for the excellent work you do for all the hunters that call!  Very generous!

[UpStateRedNeck]

Looks like he him right in the boiler room.  Nice work!

[outdoorstom]

On 10/17/2019 at 7:36 PM, UpStateRedNeck said:

Looks like he him right in the boiler room.  Nice work!

Yep, double lunger.  Pretty impressive to stalk that close to this big guy!

 

[outdoorstom]

10/18/19

 

#1

 

I was called this morning to track a doe that was shot last night. There had been 8 deer in the field and he chose the largest one.The doe had been quartering to, and the hunter felt he had hit a lung, but the arrow also showed a gut shot. The doe left the 100 yard wide field out of the hunters sight, Luna worked toward where he had lost sight of her and started checking trails. She chose one and I saw a little blood on a weed and we were off. 95 yards later and we were standing over a deer hide and bones. Coyotes had completely eaten this deer. 

 

#2

 

The second track today started 10 minutes after the first.....on the same farm. The first hunters brother had shot a doe this morning....unfortunately, a high back hit. Luna took us 3/4 of a mile but we never caught sight of it.

[Swamp_bucks]

17 minutes ago, outdoorstom said:

10/18/19

 

#1

 

I was called this morning to track a doe that was shot last night. There had been 8 deer in the field and he chose the largest one.The doe had been quartering to, and the hunter felt he had hit a lung, but the arrow also showed a gut shot. The doe left the 100 yard wide field out of the hunters sight, Luna worked toward where he had lost sight of her and started checking trails. She chose one and I saw a little blood on a weed and we were off. 95 yards later and we were standing over a deer hide and bones. Coyotes had completely eaten this deer. 

 

#2

 

The second track today started 10 minutes after the first.....on the same farm. The first hunters brother had shot a doe this morning....unfortunately, a high back hit. Luna took us 3/4 of a mile but we never caught sight of it.

Doesnt take long for yotes to consume a deer.   My buddy shot one during gun 2yrs ago in the rain.  We went the next morning and started finding hair ended up finding the deer and it looked just like your picture.  Maybe 11hrs from when he stopped tracking to when we went after it.

[crappyice]

Thats crazy how quick the yotes can burn through a deer


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[BowmanMike]

4 minutes ago, crappyice said:

Thats crazy how quick the yotes can burn through a deer


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party time!! they invite all their distant relatives and stuff themselves like we do on Thanksgiving!